Poet Helal Hafiz's First Funeral Procession Completed
Poet of Love and Rebellion, Helal Hafiz's first Namaz-e-janaza has been completed.
On Saturday (December 14), the Namaz-e-janaza took place at Bangla Academy at 11:30 am.
It has been reported that after the second funeral prayer at the National Press Club following Zuhr's prayers, he will be laid to rest at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Cemetery.
Preparations are already underway for the burial. The grave-digging activities are in progress.
According to an on-site observation, the grave of Helal Hafiz is being dug at the designated area for intellectuals within the cemetery, to the left after entering the main gate. Several grave diggers are actively working on this.
Speaking to this reporter, one of the grave diggers Liton, said, "We are digging the grave here for Poet Helal Hafiz. We started working after 9 a.m., and the process is almost complete. Hopefully, the grave will be ready shortly."
Earlier, on Friday (December 13), Helal Hafiz fell and sustained a hemorrhage in the bathroom of the Super Home in Shahbagh, Dhaka. He was taken to BSMMU Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. He was 76 years old.
It has been reported that the poet had been suffering from glaucoma for a long time. He also battled kidney complications, diabetes, and neurological issues.
Helal Hafiz was born on October 7, 1948 in Netrokona. His first poetry collection, Je Jole Agun Jole (The Water That Burns), was published in 1986. The book has been printed more than 33 times to date. Alongside his writing, Helal Hafiz worked as a journalist for Daily Jugantor and various other newspapers for many years. After the publication of his first poetry collection in 1986, he rose to immense popularity.
During the anti-autocratic movement in the country, lines from his poem "Nishiddho Sampadakiyo" (The Banned Editorial)—"Ekhon joubon jar, michhile jawar tar shreshtho shomoy" (This is the prime time for those in their youth to join the movement)—resonated in processions, slogans, and on the lips of poetry lovers.
In 2013, he received the Bangla Academy Literary Award. Earlier, he was honored with the Khalekdad Chowdhury Award and numerous other accolades.
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